A SHAMED company director who was caught exposing himself to two teenage girls while wearing a white skirt, dancing shoes and a long blond wig has escaped a prison sentence.

Father-of-one Michael Willshire, boss of a Wareham-based aluminium products firm, was carrying a shoulder bag but wearing no underwear at the time, Bournemouth Crown Court heard yesterday.

The 48-year-old from Ash Close, Swanage, admitted indecent exposure, theft and voyeurism.

Prosecutor Mark Ashley said Willshire's teenage victims had spotted him facing a wall as they walked through an alleyway near Swanage High Street.

He said: "They noticed him because he was wearing ladies' clothing. They could see he was wearing a suspender belt because the skirt was hitched up. He made eye contact with them and was smiling."

One of the girls alerted her father, who stopped Willshire driving off from the scene and kept him there until police arrived.

During a search of Willshire's home, police officers found various items including three ladies' wigs, women's clothing, a black handbag and false breasts.

Stolen ladies' underwear was recovered from a safe and video cassettes showing the secret filming of a naked woman in Willshire's bathroom were also seized.

During interview, the respected businessman told officers he suffered from depression and dressed up in women's clothes to make him feel better.

Defending, Robert Grey said his client was a man of previous good character who was now in "a stable relationship with a woman".

"He has a very good job, is director of a successful company and employs six people," he added.

Imposing a three-year community order, with a supervision requirement and the condition that Willshire attends a sex offenders' programme, Judge Roger Jarvis told smartly-dressed Willshire: "What happened was by any reckoning a bizarre episode.

"It must have caused a great deal of anguish, distress and fright to the young girls involved. You should know better than to behave the way you did."

Willshire must register as a sex offender for five years and pay £1,000 towards prosecution costs.